BREWTON – It’s a bit of coach speak: “Let’s set the tone early.”

Orange Beach did just that to open the 2026 football season with a 24-14 road win over T.R. Miller that had a few tense moments but never really got away from the Makos, who set the tone on the first two drives of the game.

First, the offense took possession from the Mako 35, getting to the line quickly after each play and marching 65 yards in 12 plays. Quarterback Tucker Wade went 4-for-4 passing on the drive and J.W. Gentry covered the final three yards for the touchdown at the 7:15 mark of the first quarter.

Orange Beach’s defense did some tone-setting of its own, forcing a three-and-out on the Tigers' first offensive series by stopping quarterback Cole McMillan for a one-yard loss, an incompletion and a completion of just five yards.

T.R. Miller would bounce back to force a three-and-out from the Makos with the help of a procedure penalty, and the home side tied the game with a 12-play march that started in the first quarter. It ended with a 13-yard pass from McMillian to Maurice English, who caught the pass and fell into the endzone. The PAT tied the score at seven with 10:52 left in the second quarter.

From there, the Makos went on a 17-0 scoring run until late in the fourth quarter when McMillan led the Tigers on a 17-play drive for 79 yards for the final points and the 24-14 score.

The second Mako touchdown was set up by two punts – a great one by Orange Beach’s Evan Crochet and a poor one by the Tigers caused by a bad snap.

Orange Beach was forced to punt after just five plays following the Tigers’ score, but Crochet’s punt rolled 52 yards all the way to the T.R. Miller 8. Three plays and three yards later, the high snap to the punter resulted in a 23-yard punt setting up the Makos on the Tiger 24.

Deundrea Gray peeled off a 13-yard run, and on the next play Wade found Sims after he made an decisive cut to shake a defender for the 11-yard touchdown. Crochet’s PAT gave the Makos a 14-7 lead.

After forcing a turnover on downs, Orange Beach took over at its own 49 and drove 46 yards to the Tiger five where Crochet hit a 17-yard field goal with 35 seconds left before halftime for a 17-7 lead. The big play was a 26-yard screen pass from Wade to highly touted tight end Lee Steele.

T.R. Miller threatened with its first possession of the second half, turning a great kickoff return by English into a short field goal try that resulted in a bad snap to give the Makos the ball at the Tigers 24.

On the ensuing possession, Wade again went 4-for-4 passing, the last one executing a great pump fake and finding Sims streaking down the field for a 57-yard score. Crochet’s PAT made it 24-7 half way through the third quarter.

Orange Beach’s defense forced the Tigers into quick punts after just three plays on the first one and four on the second on T.R. Miller’s next possessions. On the last drive of the night for the Tigers, McMillan went 10-10, including an 11-yard touchdown pass with 1:18 left in the game.

Primetime Performers

Orange Beach had several, and a big shout out to the entire defense for a solid effort throughout.

Unofficially, Wade was 14-for-17 for 173 yards and two touchdowns, both to Sims.

Steele also had some timely catches from his tight end spot and on defense had five tackles for loss, including three quarterback sacks.

For T.R. Miller, McMillan was 29-34, unofficially, for 250 yards including two touchdown passes to English who had a stellar game on offense including a 50-yard reception that set up the botched field.

English was also a standout on defense and in special teams.

Defining Moments

Two plays of more than 50 yards helped propel the Makos to the opening night win, including the 52-yard punt by Crochet to the Tiger eight.

After a three-and-out, Orange Beach took over on the Tiger 24 after a short punt and scored in two plays.

Sims’ 57-yard touchdown with 6:30 left in the third turned out to be a game-breaker.

Up Next

Orange Beach, 1-0, is at home against Monroe County, 1-0, who defeated Warren Central from Mississippi, 21-0.

T.R. Miller, 0-1, travels to Straughn, 1-0, which beat Daleville, 29-0.